Lampan review: A charming exploration of childhood innocence

Lampan review

A faint flashback of my favorite television series ‘Malgudi Days’ (1986) flashed by mind. Based on R.K Narayan’s short story collection during the 1943 era was directed by Kannada actor and director Shankar Nag and starred Master Manjunath as W. S. Swaminathan aka "Swami" and Girish Karnad as W. T. Srinivasan Swami’s father.

I just entered my teens at that time eager to do things that a teenager would love to do but always waited for Swami’s next adventure. Reason, it reminded me of my childhood days.

A few years ago, I watched Richard Linklater’s amazing epic coming of age master piece ‘Boyhood’ (2014) and pondered, wondered how life with every experience takes away the innocence.

There is no comparison between ‘Lampan’, ‘Boyhood’ and ‘Malgudi Days’ in plotline but one major thing is common – childhood and innocence.

Old timers always say that stories that are centered around child comes with an assured guarantee if done properly. Iranian legend Majid Majidi’s cinema is a befitting example and of course Satayajit Ray’s world of ‘Appu’.

‘Lampan’ is all about childhood innocence and nostalgia. A replay of your childhood with your parents/peers/grandmother/grandfather etc. the era, the village/place, language might be different but the emotional connect and relatability is bang on.

Award winner Nipun Avinash Dharmadhikari (Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration in 2018 for Dhappa) gets its aesthetics pitch perfect for the seven episodes ‘Lampan’.

Dwelling on poignancy, innocence and winning charm, the series is a delight and a welcome breeze of fresh air.

‘Lampan’ prefers to be safe, political undercurrent that was felt in ‘Malgudi Days’ and daring experiments like ‘Boyhood’  are missing.

Lampan has two younger siblings and they stay with his mother and father, why Lampan is send to stay with his grandparents is a mystery which is not solved properly.

‘Lampan’ does suffer from routine manipulation which I felt during the final episode but the camaraderie with his fellow neighbor, the cat, his friends and his equation with Aji and Ajoba, especially with Aji is heartfelt. A couple of moments stay with you.

The feel-good atmosphere is maintained throughout. Thanks to Chinmay Kelkar’s soulful writing and Nipun Avinash Dharmadhikari’s free flowing poetic narration.

Technicalities

Production values are very good. Amey Vaishali Vasant’s cinematography is eye pleasing in the day and mysteriously curious during night capturing the atmosphere diligently. Saurabh Balerao’s background score deserves special mention. Rahul Despande’s music is pleasing while one is watching.     

Performance

Mihir Godbole as Lampan is a bundle of talent that wins your heart, whenever he talks on camera sharing his curiosity, he transports us to our childhood. Cinema is a great tool of time travel they say and Mhir Godbole does it with ‘Lampan’.

Geetanjali Kulkarni as Aji is excellent right from the word go. Her body language, diction, expression are perfect for the role.

Chandrakant Kulkarni as Ajoba is controlled and nuanced with an undercurrent of sly humour that adds weight to the amazing portrayal.

Kadambari Kadam as the mother is pious

Pushkaraj Chirputkar as the father is competent.

Avani Bhave as Lampan's neighbour friend and classmate is endearing and leaves her mark.   

Lampan – final words  

‘Lampan’ is a heartwarming rewind of your curious, cute and carefree childhood days, a charming exploration of childhood innocence and upcoming puberty.

Going with a truly deserved three and a half stars (was quite tempted to give four but the manipulation and the unexplained reason of Lampan staying with his parents stopped me)

‘Lampan’ is streaming on SonyLIV from May 16, 2024.